Project overview
The RSE Metascience project aims to enhance the effectiveness of institutions' research and development by understanding the role of Research Software Engineers (RSEs) in computational and data-intensive methodologies across STEM, humanities, and social sciences. By leveraging initiatives like the International RSE Survey 2025, this project will gather and analyse data on RSE experiences and academic and code contributions, informing policy recommendations and best practices. Central to the project is the creation of the RSE Metascience Repository, a centralised resource designed to support evidence-based policymaking and understanding the impact of RSEs on research and development. By exploring the impacts of emerging AI code authoring tools on research software development, the RSE Metascience project aims to provide actionable insights and tools to enhance research quality, productivity, and recognition for RSEs worldwide. The RSE Metascience project will employ a variety of analytical methods to evaluate the contributions of RSEs and research software to scientific outputs. These analytics will include surveys, bibliometrics, and code repository analyses. The International RSE Survey 2025 will collect data on the global experiences, challenges, and perceptions of RSEs, providing a broad overview of their roles and contributions. Bibliometric analyses will examine the impact of RSE-authored publications and their influence on academic research. Code repository analyses will investigate patterns of software development, collaboration, and usage within platforms like GitHub, offering insights into the effectiveness of different development practices and the integration of AI tools. By combining these diverse analytical approaches, the project aims to generate a robust evidence base that highlights the critical role of RSEs in research, supports the development of best practices, and informs policy decisions. A key component of the RSE Metascience project is to influence policy and measure its impact on the research and development community. The project will produce policy briefs and publications aimed at disseminating findings and fostering dialogue between policymakers, research institutions, and the global RSE community. These activities will focus on advocating for structured career pathways, job security measures, and professional recognition for RSEs. Additionally, the project will provide empirical evidence to support resource allocation to RSEs, both in the UK and internationally, particularly by highlighting successful models from UK and German collaborations. The impact of these policies will be measured through their adoption, improvements in RSE job security, and the sustained use of the RSE Metascience Repository. By shaping policies that enhance the career development and recognition of RSEs, the project aims to strengthen the overall research and development landscape, ultimately bolstering the UK?s research capabilities and its leadership in global scientific initiatives.
